Kearney Octet A Triway Cornerstone

Published: February 2, 1999 12:00AM

Meet the Kearneys from Triway, the area's first family of wrestling.

THE LEADERS OF THE KEARNEY wrestling family (back,from left) Mark and John II, stand proudly behind their eight sons: (middle) Triway varsity starters Sean, John II, Curt, Ken; (front) youth wrestlers Mitchell, Chris, Brian and Kyle. Joel Troyer photoWhat started as a hobby following a co-worker's son's wrestling career, has come full circle a decade later for John Kearney II.

All six of his boys are wrestling this winter, with senior John III and sophomore twins Curt and Ken competing on the Titan varsity team.

Along the way, John II's younger brother, Mark, also introduced his two sons to wrestling, the eldest being Triway junior starter Sean.

All totalled, that adds up to an incredible eight Kearney wrestlers.

In addition to the four Kearneys on the Triway varsity, John II's sons' Brian (fifth grade), Chris (fourth grade) and Kyle (4-years old) are participants in the youth program. Mark's younger son, fourth-grader Mitchell, completes the octet.

As the patriarch of the Kearney mat family, John II marvels at how wrestling has become such a big part of their lives.

What probably started innocently as office small talk around the water cooler, and later as a visit to a Triway match, has turned into a way of life for the Kearneys.

''I started following Triway wrestling when the kids were real little,'' John II said. ''Corey Geog (a 1988 state qualifier) was probably the most influential person I followed because I worked with his dad.

''I followed him through the season and by the tournament I was really interested in the sport. Now wrestling is a chance for us to be together more or less as a family doing something we really enjoy.''

John II didn't wrestle in high school because Norwayne didn't have a team, but he decided to put his oldest three boys into the Triway youth program. Mark followed suit several years later.

Although sheer numbers alone virtually guarantee the Kearney name will continue on for years to come on the Triway wrestling scene, this season is one they'll talk about above others.

''This is the only time we'll have four Kearneys on the varsity team,'' Mark said. ''It always makes it more interesting when you go to a meet.

''You always have someone to watch if all four of them are wrestling, even at a larger tournament. Sometimes more than one is wrestling at a time. If you only had one kid, you'd only get to watch them every couple hours at some of the bigger meets.''

The oldest four Kearney boys have done more than just fill out a bunch of singlets. All four have winning records for the Titans.

Although John III has battled injuries the past two seasons, hurting both ankles, he is 15-4 at 171 pounds.

Coming off a 25-12 junior season in which he was one of five Titan district qualifiers, and led the team in takedowns and pins, the eldest Kearney is the team's most experienced wrestler.

Seeing his younger brothers and cousin come up through the ranks is icing on the cake to a solid career, which would be topped only by a state advancement by one of the family members.

''It feels real nice,'' John III said. ''It's nice to know down the line whenever people hear the name Kearney there's always going to be a connection to Triway wrestling.

''You hear all these names, like Wadsworth and Kallai, and (recognizable) names at a bunch of other schools. It's sort of like that at Triway now.''

The Kallais -- made up of state qualifier Zak (130), Chris (135) and Matt (145), who have helped the Grizzlies to a No. 6 ranking in Div. I -- are one of the only families in northeastern Ohio this season that rivals the Kearneys.

And even they don't number four. Eight wrestlers altogether? Forget about it.

Twins Curt (189 pounds, 9-6) and Ken (135, 21-5) have started their careers even hotter than their older brother, ranking among the area's top matmen as sophomores.

''Knowing that we make up a third of the team is pretty cool,'' Ken said.

Cousin Sean is 8-7 at 130 despite getting a later start in the sport.

''It's cool to think all four of us are on the same team,'' Sean said. ''When we're all doing good it sounds kind of cool to keep hearing our name.

''I started wrestling a lot later than them, in sixth or seventh grade, so I'm just trying to keep up with them.''

Last year, Ken, who was a combined 38-0 as a junior high wrestler, broke his arm three matches before the season was over. Curt was stuck behind his John III at 189.

However, this season all the Kearneys have broke out and have the odds on their side to return at least one wrestler to the Div. II Firestone district. The ultimate goal is a state berth.

''It's the first time I can ever remember four kids that have the same last name on one team,'' Curt said. ''It kind of makes it like the Kearney dynasty.

''Our goal is to get the Kearney name recognized not just in this area, but throughout the state. I don't know if that's realistic, but that's our ultimate goal. To all be over .500 is doing pretty good, though.''

Like any sport, the best wrestlers are almost always those who started when they were young.

The Kearneys are no exception.

''I started taking them to tournaments right after they started to get them some match experience,'' John II said. ''We'd go as far as Marietta and even to a bitty tournament in Pennsylvania. We basically criss-crossed the state.

''I remember one tournament we took five kids and brought back six first-place trophies. Two of the boys entered in two different weight classes and won them both ... one finished third. I was pretty proud that day.''

Last week 48 youth wrestlers, including the four youngest Kearneys, packed into the Triway wrestling room for a typical practice.

John II coordinates the elementary program, while first-year Triway coach Tim Pomfret does most of the instructing along with help from members of the Titan team.

''Especially with this program, all the older kids are willing to help out with the younger ones,'' John II said. ''For our family, the older brothers are the little ones' role models. They're their heroes.''

Tim Moses, whose son Josh, 11, is a junior wrestler, values the Kearneys role in the youth program.

''It's a well-known name,'' Moses said. ''They do a lot of training with the kids. They teach the different moves and the right attitude.''

This unique season for the Kearneys and the Titans might not have progressed as well if not for the hiring of Pomfret and his positive relationship with the Kearneys.

An All-American wrestler at Ashland and former Terra Haute (Ind.) High School standout, Pomfret was hired after Triway decided not to bring back long-time coach Jim Hasseman.

Pomfret learned about the Kearneys long before he was ever hired as John II was on the selection committee.

''I knew it was a family that definitely was going to have a big impact on the wrestling program,'' Pomfret said. ''They're probably the nucleus of the team. They all have different wrestling styles, but the one thing they all have in common is they're very hard working.

''It's rare to find a family where they all wrestle like that. I imagine it's been handed down from the older boys to the younger ones who look up to them. I hope they will live up to the same expectations as their older brothers have.''

The Titans, who won the Tri-West tournament and have also had good showings at the Wadsworth and Wayne Invitationals, rank as one of the area's top teams.

''Pomfret inherited a lot of talent and he's doing well with what he has,'' John II said. ''I met Tim when he was a candidate and he impressed me. Since he's been coach, he's done nothing to belittle that.''

The team morale under Pomfret has been outstanding, John III said.

''This year the whole team has a lot more positive attitude, not just the upperclassmen,'' John II said. ''Everyone's working together.''

With a family that cares as much about wrestling as the Kearneys leading the way, it's easy to see why the Titans are doing things the right way.